Undergoing a superficial facelift to rival a Kardashian, the venue’s loyal following is assured the soul of Bimbo will remain, including its famous $4 pizzas (they have seriously never gone up in price!), alongside drink specials and local DJ sets that will with set your soul on fire (metaphorical flames only).

Speaking on the return of Bimbo, Colonial Leisure Group Managing Director Lawrence Dowd said that while absence does make the heart grow fonder, Melburnians have been desperate for the return of Bimbo for some time now.

“Bimbo has always been very popular – we spent months responding to messages about the venue return, so we knew Bimbo 2.0 had to be big. While they were unfortunate circumstances we found ourselves in last year, it meant we had the unique opportunity to undertake a complete venue refresh.

“We really wanted to invest heavily in bringing back the spirit of the Bimbo brand. Brunswick Street has always been one of the city’s premier night strips, but in recent years there has been a number of closures, so we think this is the perfect opportunity to honour its history and bring the neighbourhood back to life,” said Lawrence.

Hoping to add some of the original Bimbo charm, venue designer Rabindra Naidoo backed Lawrence’s comments.

“Formerly The Punters Club, this was the venue that made me fall in love with Melbourne’s nightlife. That was 1988, and now over 30 years later, it is pretty exciting to be involved in designing the refit of Bimbo.

“In fact, my love of Melbourne after dark encouraged my purchase of legendary nightclub Honkytonks, as well as designing numerous bars and restaurants across the city. Bimbo fits so well into this scene, it is a space unlike anything seen before, a place that challenges the senses in a good way,” said Rabindra.

As part of the refresh, Bimbo has adopted a local art-driven design approach, including an epic mural by Filthy Ratbag aka Celeste Mountjoy, a Melbourne based illustrator and comic artist.

“​I painted a couple of walls at Bimbo when I was 16. It was my first time ever doing something like that, so I am really looking forward to coming back a couple of years later to have a crack at painting the beer garden,” said Celeste.

Maintaining clever everyday observations of living in the 21st century online, specifically via Instagram, Celeste’s work is generally simple illustrations and colourful comics.

Joining Celeste in adorning Bimbo’s walls is fellow Aussie Elliot Routledge, a contemporary artist whose work features in the main room.